Zig-zag sewing machine with single manually operable setting device for both overstitch width and stitch length



Nov. 21. 1967 R. REEBER ETAL 3,353,509 ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE WITH SINGLE MANUALLY OPERABLE SETTING DEVICE FOR BOTH ovERsTITcH WIDTH AND STITGH LENGTH Filed March 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 eQiHQd-A HERBEKT WENZ MMW nrmw rs Nov. 21, 1967 R. REEBER ETAL 3,353,509

ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE WITH SINGLE MANUALLY OPERABLE SETTING DEVICE FOR BOTH OVERSTITCH WIDTH AND STITCH LENGTH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1965 RUDOLF REEQ EQ BfERBERT WE N Z- WWW ATTORN Y United States Patent P 17 Claims. (31. 112-158) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A zig-zag sewing machine is disclosed as including means for adjusting the overstitch width and means for adjusting the stitch length. A pair of setting cams are provided, and each setting cam is operatively associated with a respective one of the adjusting means. A scanning means or element is operatively engageable with both setting cams, and a single manually operable setting device is operative to effect displacement of the scanning means and both of said setting cams to effect conjoint adjustment of the over stitch width and the stitch length. The single manually operable setting device is associated with a pictorial indication of the stitch length and stitch width, as well as with an indicator, With the pictorial representation and the indicator being relatively movable in accordance with movement of the setting device. Thus, as the setting device is adjusted to set the stitch width and length, the indicating mark indicates, on the pictorial representation, the actual stitch length and width being set.

Background of the invention This invention relates to zigzag sewing machines having adjustments for overstitch width and stitch length and, more particularly, to a novel zigzag sewing machine including a singe control for conjointly adjusting the overstitch width and the stitch length, and including means for indicating the particular stitch form set.

In known zigzag sewing machines, selection of the zigzag stitches, as to width and length, is efifected by two individual setting knobs. Thus, before starting to sew the seamstress must set the individual components, such as the stitch width and stitch length, of the zigzag stitch to be formed, by adjusting two separate and individual knobs. To do this, the seamstress must mentally picture the two components in order to transpose them as setting quantities on the two individual knobs. That is, not only must be seamstress set two different knobs manually to certain settings, but she must also mentally break down the desired stitch form into its two components. It is only then that she is in a position to set the two knobs exactly.

Particularly in the case of unskilled persons, it is easy to make mistakes with the conventional type of stitch setting knobs, where the diiferent dimensions are set at respective individual setting knobs cooperating with respective indicating scales.

Zigzag sewing machines are known where so-called automatic devices are additionally included in the machine. In these machines, the individual phases of a certain sewing program or operation, such as the setting necessary for the production of a complete button hole, are set successively step-by-step with the aid of a single actuating means. This actuating means must be provided in addition to the normal setting knobs individual to the setting of the stitch width and to the setting of the stitch length. Therefore, the usual stitch forms necessary for zigzag or for straight stitch seams cannot beset by such single actuating 3,353,509 Patented Nov. 21,1967

means. The formation of such seams can be eifected only after individual manual setting of the desired stitch form with the particular and individual setting means for the stitch width and for the stitch length and which are provided for this purpose.

An object of the invention is to provide a zigzag sewing machine in which the operation is simplified and facilitated and in which sources of errors due to errors in setting are eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved zigzag sewing machine including a single control for conjointly setting both the overstitch widths and the stitch lengths.

A further object of the invention is to provide a zigzag sewing machine including a single control for conjointly setting the overstitch width, the stitch length, and indicating the particular stitch form set.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, in a zigzag sewing machine, a single manually operated setting means for setting the total entire program of stitch executions thereof, and particularly the stitch width and stitch length components.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a zigzag sewing machine including devices for adjusting the overstitch width and the stitch length, these devices being connected, through a respective setting cam and respective scanning means, with a single manually controllable setting means, preferably designed as a knob and by actuation of which the overstitch width and the stitch length may be conjointly adjusted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a zigzag sewing machine including means for visually indicating the physical form of the particular stitch form set.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a zigzag sewing machine including means for conjointly thereby, an indicating mark cooperable with a visualindication of the particular stitch form as set by the adjustment means.

To attain these objects, a zigzag sewing machine in accordance with the invention includes devices for adjusting the overstitch width and the stitch length. These devices are connected, through respective setting cams and respective scanning means, with a single manually operable or controllable setting device which preferably is designed as a knob. By operation of this device, the overstitch width and the stitch length can be varied or adjusted conjointly.

In addition, the zigzag sewing machine includes a pattern or picture serving to indicate the particular stitch form set, and this pattern is composed of a succession of identical replicas or imitations of the stitch forms characteristic of respective settings of the manual adjustment means. The setting of a stitch form to the replica or pic ture thereof in the indicating pattern can be eifected by an indicating mark controlled by the manual setting or adjusting means and cooperable with the indicating pattern. Thereby, the seamstress needs to set only one manually actuated means to conjointly adjust the overstitch width and the stitch length to the visual replica of the desired individual stitch, as visible from the indicating pattern. The stitches then to be formed will correspond exactly with the stitch form set on the indicating means.

The indicating mark, the indicating pattern and the setting device may be designed and mutually correlated in various manners. A particular advantageous correlation can be effected by applying the indicating pattern in fixed relation on the machine housing and making the indicating mark displaceable in relation to the fixed pattern and connected directly with the setting device. If the setting device is designed as an adjustable knob, the indicating pattern can be provided directly on this knob. In such case, the indicating mark cooperable with the indicating pattern is arranged in fixed relation on the housing of the sewing machine. However, stitch form indicating means can, in accordance with the invention, be controlled by the manual setting means through transmission elements.

A feature of the invention consists in that the setting cams, provided between the setting devices for the overstitch width and the stitch length and the mentioned scanning means, :are subdivided into sections. On a portion of the length of the setting cams, the scanning profiles of the corresponding sections for the stitch length and for the overstitch width are so designed that the profile height is constant on the entire subsection of one cam while the profile height on the corresponding subsection of the other cam is varied steadily from a minimum to a maximum or vice versa. Thus, one stitch component is maintained at a constant value through one subsection while the value of the other stitch component is steadily varied.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a zigzag sewing machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the standard of the sewing machine shown in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the hand wheel;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the devices for setting the stitch length and the overstitch width;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view, partially in section, of the adjusting device for the overstitch width and the drive thereof; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged representation ofthe stitch indicating pattern consisting of a succession of identical imitations or replicas of the stitch forms.

' Referring to FIG. 1, a zigzag sewing machine embodying the invention comprises a work-support plate 1, a standard 2, an arm 3 and a head 4. The head 40f the machine encloses the guide 5 for the needle shank, and this guide is pivotally suspended about a hinge pin 6. Swinging or pivoting of guide 5 about hinge pin 6 is effected from rocker shaft 7, whose movement is transmitted by a crank 8through a link 9, provided with ball joints at its ends, to an angle lever 10 mounted in arm 3 and connected by a pitman 11 to needle shank guideS.

R'eferring to FIG. 2, the arm drive shaft 12 enclosed within 'arm 3, has a stitch-setting eccentric 13 secured to rotate therewith. Eccentric 13 .is .operatively-engaged with the forked upper end of an eccentric lever 14. The lower end of lever 14 is pivotally connected to a crank 15 which is secured on cloth feed. shaft 17 mounted in bearings 16. Shaft' 17 imparts horizontal movements to cloth feed 18, shown in FIG. 1, in a known manner.

Intermediate its ends, shaft 14 has pivotally secured thereto, by means of a hinge screw 19, a slider 20 which is slidable in the stitch-setting block or guide 21. By means of a headless screw 22, block 21 is oscillatably mounted in standard 2. An arm 23 extends from block 21 and has'pivotally connected thereto one end of a tie rod 24. The cloth feed shaft 26 is mounted in the flaps 25 of work support plate 1, and effects the vertical movement of cloth feed 18. Shaft 26 is driven, in the usual manner, through crank 27 and eccentric rod 28 which, in turn,

is driven by the usual lifting eccentric securedonarmshaft 12, but not shown in the drawings.

In accordance with the invention, arm 3 includes a device for setting the degree of oscillation of rocker shaft 7 as well as that of cloth feed shaft 17. For this purpose, and as best seen in FIG. 3, a setting shaft 31 is positioned in arm 3, as by being mounted for angular adjustment about its axis in housing walls 29 and 30. A rocker 32 is provided with two legs 33a and 33b, which rotatably receive shaft 31 but are fixed against axial displacement relative to this shaft. One leg 33a, as best seen in FIG. 2, is connected through tie rod or link 24 with stitch setting sliding block 21. Block 21 is biased in the direction required for forward sewing by means of tension spring 34 having one end coupled to arm 23 and the other end coupled to standard 2.

The other leg 33b of rocker 32, as best seen in FIG. 3, has an extension or arm 35 carrying a pin 36. Pin 36 is engaged in the forked end of a link 37 whose opposite end is pivotally connected to a crank 39 secured fixedly on a polygonal, such as hexagonal, cross section shaft 40 having circular cross section hubs at its opposite ends mounted, for angular adjustment of shaft 40 about its axis, in circular apertures in housing walls 29 and 30. A double-arm support 42, having a bore 41 intermediate its ends, is mounted on shaft 40,'and the diameter of bore 41 corresponds to the distance between two diagonally opposite edges of shaft 40 so that support 42 is angularly adjustable about the axis of shaft 40. Support 42 is spanned by a yoke 44 mounted on shaft 40 for displacement axially of the latter by virtue of being formed with bearing recesses 43. Yoke 44 is connected, through an extension or stay 45, with a setting device or knob 46. Bearing recesses 43 of yoke 44 have a polygonal profile corresponding to the polygonal cross section of shaft 40. Stay 45, with settingv means 46, extends outwardly of arm 3 from under an openable cover 47, as shown in FIG. 1. Setting device 46, and particularly stay 45, is provided with an indicating mark 48 which is cooperable with an indicating pattern 49 provided on the exterior surface of cover 47.

Referring again to FIG. 3, a scanning means or element 50, having a conical or frusto-conicalv surface, is secured to support 42 and extends in the direction of its axis into a cutout 51 of rocker 32. The longer opposite sides of cutout 51 aredefined by a setting cam 52, for the size of the stitch length in the forward sewing direction, and a'setting cam 53, for the size of the stitch length in a backward sewing direction. The two setting earns 52 and 53 are symmetrical so that, upon sewing backward, the same stitch length results as-adjusted for farward sewing. By means of tension spring" 34, shown in FIG. 2, rocker 32 is biased in a direction to maintain setting cam 52 in engagement with scanning means or element 50. The effective length of scanning element engaged with cam 52 and serving to set the stitch length is adjustable by displacement of frusto-conical element 50 lengthwise of itself or substantially perpendicularly relative to the surface of cam 52. This penrnits a fine adjustment of the minimum stitch length, such asis'required, in particular, for the production of close .caterpillar seams when using thread or yarn of different thicknesses.

One arm of support 42 is formed with a fork 54 embracing an eccentric straight guide 56 mounted, for angular or rotational adjustment, in housingwall 29, by means of a collar.55. Guide 56 is designed as a tubular guide so as to allow rocker shaft 7 to conformingly extend therethrough. By means of knurled'disc 57, guide 56 can be angularly adjusted about shaft 7. Thereby, support 42 is pivoted so that the scanning means or element 50' will extend more or less deeply into cutout 51. The set adjusted position of guide 55 may be maintained by .any suitable means, which have not been illustrated.

Support 42 is provided with a scanning means, such as a finger 58, engaging the setting cam 59 of a rocker 60 which is freely oscillatable on setting shaft 31. The free end of rocker 60 carries a pin 61 which extends into a fork 62 of a double-armed lever 64 oscillatably mounted on housing wall 30 by means of a pin 63. A tension spring 65 has one end engaged with lever 64 and its other end engaged with housing wall 30. Spring 65 biases rocker 60 toward abutment with scanning means 58, or biases lever 64 toward engagement with an eccentric abutment disc 66 angularly adjustably mounted on housing wall 30.

Lever 64, which is formed with an enlarged recess 67 for passage of setting shaft 31 therethrough, with substantial clearance, has one end formed with a slot 68 into which there extends a pin 69. Pin 69 extends through a slot 70 in housing wall 30 and is secured in an angle member 71 which is freely oscillatable on the end of setting shaft 31, which latter also extends through wall 30. Referring to FIG. 4, member 71 is connected, through a pitman 72, with an overstitch sliding block 73 mounted for rotation in a bore 74 in the free end of an arm 75 fastened on setting shaft 31. A slide 77 is slidably mounted in a guideway 76 of block 73, and is oscillatably carried by one end of a lever 78. The other end of lever 78 is pivotally connected to a crank arm 79 fastened on the end of rocker shaft 7 extendig through housing wall 30.

Crank arm 79 is oscillated by means of an eccentric rod or link 80 having an end pivotally connected to lever 78 between the ends of the latter. Eccentric rod 80 is driven by means of a pinion 81 secured on arm shaft 12 and meshing with a gear 82 which has twice the number of teeth of pinion 81. Gear 82 has secured thereto a triangle form eccentric 83 embraced by link 80', and is mounted on an axle 84 secured in housing wall 30. Gear 82, eccentric 83 and rod or link 80 are secured in operative relation by a disc 85 retained on axle 84 by means of a guard ring 86, this guard ring preventing displacement of the parts axially of axle 84.

Referring to FIG. 3, hand lever 87 is secured to setting shaft 31 and has a nose 90 extending therefrom. Nose 90 engages in ratchet depressions 88 of a ratchet lever 89 which is hingedly mounted in arm 3. A torsion spring 91 holds the selected ratchet depression in engagement with nose 90.

In order to provide a plurality of the usual overstitchfeed combinations with a relatively short displacement path for support 42 and in a clear and simple manner, each of the setting cams 52 and 53 of rocker 32, for adjusting the stitch length, as well as the setting cam 59 of rocker 60, for adjusting the overstitch, is subdivided into plural merging or linearly consecutive sections, such as 52a-52d, 53a53d, and 5911-5911, respectively. Section 59a is shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. 3, since its function can be effected by disc 66, and therefore its construction as part of rocker 60 is superfluous. The movement of setting cam 59 is so selected that section 59a, or abutment disc 66 in engagement with lever 64, maintains the overstitch at a constant value of zero, section 59b varies the overstitch value linearly from zero to a maximum, section 590 maintains the overstitch at the maximum value, and section 59d varies the overstitch value from its maximum to zero. In sections 52a and 53a of setting cams 52 and 53, respectively, on rocker 32, the feed value decreases from a maximum to a minimum close to zero. In sections 52b and 53b, this minimum is maintained. In sections 52c and 530, the feed value is again increased to the maximum. In sections 52d and 53d, the maximum feed value is again reduced to substantially zero.

Referring to FIG. 5, the indicating pattern 49 illustrates the conjoint overstitch width and stitch length resulting from displacement of support 42, these illustrations being symbolized as continuous interconnected individual stitches. The individual stitches are identical replicas of the stitch forrns characteristic of respective settings of knob 46. That is, each stitch is an identical replica of the average stitch form of the adjustment range covered by such individual stitch as illustrated in the indicating pattern 49. The individual sections 49a-49d of pattern 49 represent the stitch patterns resulting from the conjoint effect of the sections 52a-52d, 53a53d, and 59a- 59d of the setting earns 52 and 59, respectively. Thus, proceeding from left to right, it can be seen that, in section 49a, at an overstitch width of zero, the feed decreases from its maximum value to the smallest possible value. In section 4%, the overstitch width increases from zero to the maximum at a constant minimum feed. In section 49c, the stitch length increases to its maximum while the maximum overstitch width is retained. In section 49d, both the overstitch width and the stitch length decrease toward zero.

The selection of a stitch form having a certain overstitch width and a certain stitch length, and the setting of the machine to make this stitch form, is effected by displacing manually operated setting device 46 which observing the relation of indicating mark 48 to the desired stitch form as appearing upon the indicator pattern 49. When setting device 46 is displaced, yoke 44 carries along the support 42, so that the latter is displaced parallel to straight guide 56 due to the engagement of fork 54 with guide 56.

When support 42'is displaced, scanning means or finger 58 swings rocker 68 back a greater or lesser distance, depending upon the design of setting cam 59. Pin 61 correspondingly pivots lever 64 which, through its slot 68 in which is engaged pin 69, effects a rotation of angle piece 71. Through pitman 72, angle piece 71 rotates overstitch sliding block 73. As a result of such rotation of block 73, when lever 78 is oscillated, slide 77, through eccentric driven by pinion 81 through gear 82 and through the triangular eccentric 83, imparts an additional movement to lever 78 besides the rotary movement of lever 78 about its pivotal connection with a crank arm 79. Through lever 78 and crank arm 79, this additional movement sets rocker shaft 7 and hence the needle shank guide 5 into a swinging motion about hinge pin 6 (FIG. 1).

Further, when support 42 is displaced, rocker 32 is pivoted by scanning element 50 in accordance with the design of upper setting cam 52. Stitch setting sliding block 21 is then rotated through the pivotally connected tie rod 24. When eccentric fork rod 14 is driven by stitch setting eccentric 13, the cloth feed shaft 17 thus has a certain angular displacement and imparts to the cloth feed the corresponding forward movement.

Sewing of a backward seam is effected by depressing setting device 46. This angularly displaces shaft 40 through yoke 44. Thereby, crank 39, through link 37 and rod 36, angularly displaces arm35 and thus rocker 32 against the bias of tension spring 34. This elfects engagement of setting cam 53 with scanning means 50, and stitch setting sliding block 21 is rotated, through tie rod 24, into the backward sewing position. Upon release of setting device 46, rocker 32 returns to its illustrated position under the bias of spring 34 so that scanning means 50 again engages setting cam 52, which is the cam controlling sewing in a forward direction.

The fine adjustment of the smallest stitch length must be sufliciently fine so that, in the making of button holes, a satisfactory caterpillar can be sewn. To effect this fine adjustment, knurled disc 57 is angularly adjusted. Due to the eccentric design of straight guide 56, support 42 is thus rotated about the axis of shaft 40, and scanning means 50 is moved, in the direction of its axis, relative to cutout 51 of rocker 32. Thus, the setting cams 52 or 53 will engage a larger diameter of the conical surface of scanning means 50, and the amount of feed length, depending upon the shape of setting cams 52 and 53, is

somewhat decreased. Conversely, upon abutment of set:

ting cams 52 or 53 against a smaller diameter of the frustoconical surface of scanning means 50, the feed length is somewhat increased. Although, in the middle and upper stitch length range, this size variation does not appreciably influence the stitch length, the stitch density can be adapted, by the described adjustment, in very fine gradations to the thickness of the thread or yarn used for sewing in the range of the smallest stitch length.

The deflection of rocker 6G in one direction can be limited by abutment disc 66. By this means, it is possible to obtain an exact adjustment of the zero position, in which needle shank guide performs no overstitch deflec tion whatsoever. Due to the provision of this limitation of the deflection of rocker 60, section 59a of setting cam 59 on rocker 60, coordinated with sections 52a and 5311 on rocker 32, can be omitted.

The stitch field position of the particular seam desired can be set by means of hand lever 87, which ecomes accessible by opening cover 47. Hand lever 87 is then adjusted so that nose 90 engages in one of the three ratched depressions 88. Due to the resulting angular movement of arm 75 secured to setting shaft 31 and carrying overstitch sliding block 73, the stitch field position is varied accordingly,

It should he understood that the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrated example. For example, the setting cams may be in direct drive connection with setting device 46 in a kinematic reversal of the described and illustrated design. In such a case, the scanning means are then connected with the stitch adjustment means of the machine. Furthermore, it is not necessary to arrange the setting cams on supports displaceable linearly. Thus, they may be formed on the circumferences or on the side surfaces of corresponding cam discs. In such cases, it is desirable to fasten the cam discs on a setting shaft and to provide, on an end of this setting shaft protruding from the sewing machine housing, a manually operated setting means in the form of a shaft turning knob.

It is also possible simultaneously to control the stitch field position by operation of setting device 46. In this case, an additional scanning means is provided, for example, on support 42, and cooperates with a setting cam arranged on setting shaft 31. The adjustment of the stitch field position, with this arrangement, is controlled through the additional setting cam and the setting shaft 31 upon actuation of setting device 46.

Of course, aside from button hole sewing, variation of the stitch field position is of no particular advantage in practical sewing operations, particularly since it is shifted only stepwise between its left, central and right positions. For this reason, the incorporation of the conjoint adjustment of the stitch field position together with the conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and stitch length has not been illustrated in the particular example shown in the drawings and described in detail above.

In the illustrated example, indicating mark 48 is applied directly to adjustment means 46 or to its support arm 45. However, the indicating mark 48 could be coupled to setting means 46 through suitable transmission elements, so that, upon actuation of setting means 46, mark 48 will point to that stitch form, of indicating pattern 49, corresponding to the setting of switch knob 46. In this case, also, the pattern 49 is provided on the exterior surface of the housing of the sewing machine. Furthermore, the indicating pattern 49 may be applied directly to setting device 46. This is particularly advantageous when device 46 is designed as a rotatable knob, rather than as a laterally displaceable knob as shown in the drawings. In such instance, setting mark 48 would be provided in a fixed position on the housing of the sewing machine and the setting device would be movable with respect to the relatively fixed setting mark. Various other ways in which the cooperation between indicating mark 48 and pattern 453 can be effected will be apparent.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and/or described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a pair of setting cams, each operatively associated with a respective one of said adjusting means; scanning means operatively engageable with both of said setting cams; and a single manually operable setting device operative to effect displacement of said scanning means and both of said setting cams to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length.

2. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a pair of setting cams, each operatively associated with a respective one of said adjusting means; scanning means operatively engageable with both of said setting earns; a single manually operable setting device operative to effect displacement of said scanning means and both of said setting cams to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length; and indicating means for indicating the particular stitch form set by said setting device, said indicating means including a pair of relatively movable indicator elements, one of which is coupled to said setting device for movement in accordance with operation of they latter.

3. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a pair of setting cams, each operatively associated with a respective one of said adjusting means; scanning means operatively engageable with both of said setting cams; and a single manually operable setting device connected to said scanning means to effect displacement of said scanning means and said setting cams simultaneously, to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length.

4. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adusting the stitch length; a pair of setting cams, each operatively associated with a respective one of said adjusting means; scanning means operatively engageable with both of said setting cams; a single manually operable setting device connected to said scanning means to effect displacement of said scanning means and said setting cams simultaneously to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length; and indicating means for indicating the particular stitch form set by said setting device, said indicating means including a pair of relatively movable indicator elements, one of which is coupled to said setting device for movement in accordance with operation of said setting device.

5. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a pair of setting cams, each operatively associated with a respective one of said adjusting means; scanning means operatively engageable with both of said setting cams; a single manually operable setting device operative to effect displacement of said scanning means and both of said setting cams to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length; and indicating means for indicating the particular stitch form set by operation of said setting device, said indicating means including a stitch pattern element indicating the particular stitch form set and composed of a series of identical replices of the respective stitch forms corresponding to each setting of said setting device; and an indicator element movable relative to said pattern element, one of said elements being coupled to said setting device for movement in accordance with operation of the latter.

6. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a pair of setting cams, each operatively associated with a respective one of said adjusting means; scanning means operatively engageable with both of said setting cams; a single manually operable setting device connected to said scanning means to effect displacement of said scanning means said setting cams simultaneously, to etfect conjoint adustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length; a stitch form indicating pattern on the housing of said machine adjacent said setting device, said pattern comprising a succession of identical replicas of the particular stitch form charac teristic of a respective setting of said setting device; and an indicator mark cooperable with said pattern and coupled to said setting device for displacement relative to said pattern in accordance with the setting of said setting device.

7. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a pair of setting cams, each operatively associated with a respective one of said adjusting means; scanning means operatively engageable with both of said setting cams; a single manually operable setting device connected to said scanning means to effect displacement of said scanning means and said setting cams simultaneously, to effect conjoint adustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length; a stitch form indicating pattern on the housing of said machine adjacent said setting device, said pattern comprising a succession of identical replicas of the particular stitch form characteristic of a respective setting of said setting device; and an indicator mark on said setting device movable relative to said pattern in accordance with operation of said setting device.

8. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a pair of setting cams, each operatively associated with a respective one of said adjusting means; scanning means operatively engageable with both of said setting cams; and a single manually operable setting device connected to said scanning means to effect displacement of said scanning means and said setting cams simultaneously, to efiect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length, each of said setting cams being subdivided into linearly sucessive and merging sections; said cams extending parallel to each other and each section of one cam corresponding in length and position toa respective section of the other cam; each cam including a pair of immediately successive sections in one of which the profile height is constant and in the other of which the profile height varies uniformly; the constant profile height section of one cam corresponding to the variable height section of the other cam and the variable profile height section of said one cam corresponding to the. constant profile height section of said other cam; whereby, by operation of said setting device, the overstitch width may be varied uniformly while the stitch length is maintained constant, and vice versa.

9. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a first setting camoperatively associated with said means for adjusting the overstitch width; a second setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the stitch length; said setting cams extending in spaced parallel relation to each other; a support movable in a fixed linear path relative to said setting cams; a first scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said first setting cam; a second scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said second setting cam; and a single manually operable setting device operable to displace said support along its linear path to efiect displacement of said first and second setting cams by said first and second scanning 10 means, respectively, to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length.

10. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a first setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the overstitch width; a second setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the stitich length; said setting cams extending in spaced parallel relation to each other; a support movable in'a fixed linear path relative to said setting cams; a first scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said first setting cam; a second scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said second setting cam; and a single manually operable setting device operable to displace said support along its linear path to eflect displacement of said first and second setting cams by said first and second scanning means, respectively, to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length; each of said setting cams being subdivided into linearly successive and merging sections, each section of said first cam corresponding in length and position to a corresponding section of said second cam, and vice versa; each of said cams including a pair of linearly successive sections, one of which has a constant profile height and the other of which has a uniformly varied profile height; the constant profile height section of one cam being located correspondingly to the variable profile height section of the other cam, and vice versa; whereby, by operation of said setting device, the overstitch width can be maintained constant while the stitch length is varied, and vice versa.

11. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a first setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the overstitch width; a second setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the stitch length; said setting cams extending in spaced parallel relation to each other; a support movable in a fixed linear path relative to said setting cams; a first scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said first setting cam; a second scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said second setting cam; and a single manually operable setting device operable to displace said support along its linear path to efiect displacement of said first and second setting cams by said first and second scanning means, respectively, to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length; each of said setting cams being subdivided into linearly successive and merging sections, each section of said first cam corresponding in length and position to a corresponding section of said second cam, and vice versa; each of said cams including a pair of linearly successive sections, one of which has a constant profile height and the other of which has a uniformly varied profile height; the constant profile height section of one cam being located correspondinglyto the variable profile height section of the other cam, and vice versa; whereby, by operation of said setting device, the overstitch width can be maintained constant while the stitch length is varied, and vice versa; said first setting cam including an initial section having a profile such as to maintain the overstitch width constantly at zero when said first scanning means is engageable with said first section.

12. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a first setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the overstitch width; a second setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the stitch length; said setting cams extending in spaced parallel relation to each other; a support movable in a fixed linear path relative to said setting cams; a first scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said first setting cam; a second scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said second setting cam; a single manually operable setting device operable to displace said support along its linear path to effect displacement of said first and second setting cams by said first and second scanning means, respectively, to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length; each of said setting cams being subdivided into linearly successive and merging sections, each section of said first cam corresponding in length and position to a corresponding section of said second cam, and vice versa; each of said cams including a pair of linearly successive sections, one of which has a constant profile height and the other of which has a uniformly varied profile height; the constant profile height section of one cam being located correspondingly to the variable profile height section of the other cam, and vice versa; whereby, by operation of said setting device, the overstitch width can be maintained constant 'while the stitch length is varied, and vice versa; and-an adjustable abutment engageable with said first cam to set the zero overstitch position of said first setting cam.

13. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a first setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the overstitch width; a second setting cam operatively associated with said means'for adjusting the stitch length; said setting cams extending in spaced parallel relation to each other; a support movable in a fixed linear path relative to said setting earns; a first scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said first setting cam; a second scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said second setting cam; and a single manually operable setting device operable to displace said support along its linear path to effect displacement of said first and second setting cams by said first and second scanning means, respectively, to effect conjoint adjustment-of the overstitch width and the stitch length; said second cam comprising a relatively elongated cutout forming a pair of first and second cam surfaces arranged in opposing relation to each other; said first cam surface controlling said means for adjusting the stitch length during forward sewing and said second cam surface controlling the means foradjusting the stitch length during backward sewing; said second scanning means projecting into said cutout for engagement with either said first cam surface or said second cam surface; said second cam surface extending inversely relative to said first cam surface.

14. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means foradjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a first setting cam operatively associated with saidmeans for adjusting the overstitch width; a second setting cam operatively associated with said means-for adjusting the stitch length; said setting cams extending in spaced parallel relation to each other; asupport movable in a fixed linear path relative to said setting cams; a first scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said first setting cams; a secondscanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said second setting cam; a single manually operable setting device operable to displace said support along its linear path to efiect displacement of said first and second setting cams by said first and second scanning means, respectively, to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitchlength; said second cam comprising a relatively elongated cutout forming a pair of first and second cam surfaces arranged in opposing relation to each other; saidfirst cam surface controlling said means for adjusting the stitch length during forward sewing and said second cam surface controlling the means for adjusting the stitch length during backward sewing; said second scanning means projecting into said cutout forengagement with either said first cam surface or said second cam surface; said second cam surface extending CAD inversely relative to said first cam surface; means biasing said second setting cam in a direction to maintain engagement between said first cam surface and said second scanning means; and means coupling said setting device to said second setting cam and operable, upon movement of said setting device in a direction other than a setting direction, to move said second setting carn, against the biasing force, in a direction to engage said second cam surface with said second scanning means;

15. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a first setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the overstitch width; a second setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the stitch length; said setting cams extending in spaced parallel relation to each other; a support movable in a fixed linear path relative to said setting cams; a first scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said first setting cam; a second scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said second setting cam; and a single manually operable setting device operable to displace said support along its linear path to effect displacement of said first and second setting cams by said first and second scanning means, respectively, to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length; said second cam comprising a relatively elongated cutout forming a pair of first and second cam surfaces arranged in opposing relation to each other; saidfirst cam surface controlling said means for adjusting the stitch length during forward sewing and said second cam surface controlling the means for adjusting the stitch length during backward sewing; said second scanning means projecting into said cutout for engagement with either said first cam surface or said second cam surface; said second cam surface extending inversely relative to said first cam surface; said second scanning means having a conical surface whose axis is perpendicular to the linear extent of said first and scond cam surfaces; the extent of penetration of said scanning means into said cutout being adjustable to select the respective diameter of said conical surface engageable with said first and second cam surfaces.

16. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a first setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the overstitch width; a second setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the stitch length; said cams extending linearly in spaced parallel relation to each other; a pivotally mounted support movable along said cams parallel to its pivot axis; guiding means guiding said support for rectilinear movement parallel to said cams, said support being oscillatable perpendicular to its direction of rectilinear displacement; a first scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said first setting cam; a second scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said second setting earn; a single manually operable setting device operative to displace said supportalong its rectilinear guiding means relative to both of said setting cams to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch width and the stitch length; said second cam being formed with a cutout providing first and second linerly extending and opposed cam surfaces cooperable with said second scanning means; said first cam surface controlling the stitch length when sewing in forward direction and saidsecond cam surface controlling the stitch length when sewing in a reverse direction; said first andsecond cam surfaces being arranged inversely relative to each other; said second scanning means extending into said cutout and having a conical surface whose axis is perpendicular to the linear extent of said second cam whereby, upon relative angular adjustment of said support about its pivot axis, the diameter of said conical surface engageable with said first and second cam surfaces is varied; said support having a forked end en-gaging its rectilinear guiding means; said rectilinear guiding means being adjustable perpendicularly to its linear extent to angularly adjust said support about its pivotal mounting.

17. A zigzag sewing machine comprising, in combination, means for adjusting the overstitch width; means for adjusting the stitch length; a first setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the overstitch width; a second setting cam operatively associated with said means for adjusting the stitch length; said cams extending linearly in spaced parallel relation to each other; a pivotally mounted support movable along said cams parallel to its pivot axis; guiding means guiding said support for rectilinear movement parallel to said cams, said support being oscillatable perpendicular to its direction of rectilinear displacement; a first scanning means fixed to said support and engageable with said first setting cam; a second scanning means fixed to said support and en-ga-geable with said second setting cam; a single manually operable setting device operative to displace said support along its rectilinear guiding means relative to both of said setting cams to effect conjoint adjustment of the overstitch Width and the stitch length; said second cam being formed Will a cutout providing first and second linearly extending and opposed cam surfaces cooperable with said second scanning means; said first cam surface controlling the stitch length when sewing in a forward direction and said second cam surface controlling the stitch length when sewing in a reverse direction;

said first and second cam surfaces being arranged inversely relative to each other; said second scanning means extending into said cutout and having a conical surface whose axis is perpendicular to the linear extent of said second cam whereby, upon relative angular adjustment of said support about its pivot axis, the diameter of said conical surface engageable with said first and second cam surfaces is varied; said support having a forked end engaging its rectilinear guiding means; said rectilinear guiding means being adjustable perpendicularly to its linear extent to angularly adjust said support about its pivotal mounting; an angularly adjustable setting shaft coupling said second carn to said means for adjusting the stitch length; a manually operable lever secured to said setting shaft to angularly adjust the same to shift the stitch field; and releasable latch means cooperable with said lever to releasably maintain the same in a selected one of several adjusted positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,064,603 11/1962 Iida et a1. 112-158 3,238,905 3/1966 Fresard 112-158 3,247,817 4/1966 'Eguchi 112158 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD J. SCANLAN, JR., Examiner. 

1. A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE OVERSTITCH WIDTH; MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE STITCH LENGTH; A PAIR OF SETTING CAMS, EACH OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID ADJUSTING MEANS; SCANNING MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH BOTH OF SAID SETTING CAMS; AND A SINGLE MANUALLY OPERABLE SETTING DEVICE OPERATIVE TO EFFECT DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SCANNING MEANS AND BOTH OF SAID SETTING CAMS TO EFFECT CONJOINT ADJUSTMENT OF THE OVERSTITCH WIDTH AND THE STITCH LENGTH. 